Life-preserver.



Ne. 7:5,2m. Patented Bee. 9-, 1902.

a. B. HAMILTON.

LIFE PRESERVEB.

(Applicatin filed Apr. 6, 1900. Renewed May 6, 1902.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. HAMILTON, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

LlFE-PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,261, dated December 9, 1902.

Application filed April 6, 1900. Renewed May 6, 1902. Serial No. 106,158. (No model.)

1b to whom, it inn/y concern:

Be it known that I, JosnPH B. HAMILTON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of life-preservers which are in the form of annular or ring-shaped buoys.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of life-preserver which will be readily self-conforming to the body of the person, whether same be comparatively large or small, and which, moreover, may be folded in a manner to occupy considerably less space than that required when in its distended condition for use.

A leading characteristic of the invention is found in the make-up of the life-preserver with a series of closed pockets or cells, in each of which is a block or section of cork or other buoyant material, the cells or pockets being composed of textile material, such as canvas or duck, said material being extended in the form of an annular lip at the internal edge of the life-preserver and is formed tubular, inclosing therewithin an encircling length of flexible yielding material, such as a cord or rope ora spiral spring, whereby the annular life-preserver may be readily conformable about bodies of different sizes with a degree of constriction thereabout.

The improved life-preserver is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of the same with parts broken out and in horizontal section for clearer illustration. Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the-lifepreserver as doubled or folded for stowage.

In the drawings, A represents the life-preserver as a whole. The same comprises an annular and comparatively cross-sectionally bulky outer body Ct, in which is comprised segmental-shaped sections b b, of cork, preterably in the natural condition, and an in wardly-extended annular flexible lip d, which is constructed with an annular tube f at its inner edge, in which is inclosed a flexible cord-like piece g or annular length of material, which may be a spiral spring or a rope.

As shown, the life-preserver body comprising the cork blocks or segments is constructed with the textile wrapping or case 0, which may be of canvas, duck, or like material, the same being out, fashioned, or fitted and sewed to inclose the cork segments and to constitute the annular tube for the appliance g, rows of stitches e 6 being provided in circular lines closely next to the inner edge of the body of the life-preserver and also next outside of the said tube f. At diametrically 0pposite points the textile or fabric inclosing casing for the buoyant segments 2') b is constructed With interruptions or spaces between the chambers or pockets in which the segments are inclosed, as indicated at h h,whereby the opposite semicircular halves of the life-preserver may be doubled the one upon the other, the textile fabric having the upper and lower sections or portions thereof closed together and sewed or otherwise secured at the gaps h h, constituting an efficient hinge. The life-preserver may be provided with shoulder-straps or they may be omitted in accordance with the requirements, official or otherwise. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A life-preserver composed of an annular casing of textileor other flexible material, and having inclosed therewithin segments of cork or like buoyant material, said casing being provided with an inwardly-extending annular flexible lip provided with a tubef and having inclosed therein a ring of flexible material substantially as described.

2. A life-preserver composed of an annular casing of textile or like flexible material having pockets or cells therein, in which are incloscd segments b I) of cork, the material composing the casing being close together at the inner edge of the appliance to constitute the annular lip cl which has the annular tube f inclosing the ring g of flexible material and said casing at diametrically opposite-points having the opposite thicknesses thereof closed and secured together at the spaces h h substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Signed by me at Springfield, Massachusetts, this 28th day of March, 1900.

J OSEPH B. HAMILTON.

Witnesses:

WM. S. BELLOWS, A. W. ALLEN. 

